Owners close under-fire care home

Southern Cross Healthcare, which owns Manor Court Care Home at Darton, has confirmed it will close the 32-bed home, which offers services for people suffering with dementia, on December 27.

A recent inspection by the regulator, the Care Quality Commission, found that standards in the home were not acceptable, and since then staff have been working with Barnsley Council to improve.

But it has now been announced that despite "significant progress", residents will be asked to move out after Christmas.

A statement issued by the firm and the council said the decision had "not been taken lightly" and added that the company "will continue to co-operate to ensure that residents and their relatives are fully supported to find alternative accommodation".

Barnsley Council's spokesman for adult services, Jenny Platts, said: "Barnsley Council remains confident that the arrangements for closing Manor Court will be handled by Southern Cross in an orderly and sensitive manner to avoid any unnecessary anxiety and distress to residents and their relatives."